News, Publications & Announcements - Bioenergy

The Government of Thailand, through its Alternative Energy Development Plan, has set a target of increasing its biofuels production to five billion litres by 2022. The Thai Government sees this expansion as a way to strengthen the country’s energy security, foster rural development and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The analysis presented in this document is the result of the implementation of the BEFS Analytical Framework in Thailand. The framework envisages analyzing the effects of the bioenergy sector on the agricultural market and the use of natural resources, it evaluates the economic competitiveness and the effects on greenhouse gas emissions, and finally, it highlights the socio-economic aspects of bioenergy development at the macro and micro level.

Although the need for dense energy carriers for the aviation industry and other uses is
assured in the foreseeable future, there is currently lack of viable renewable alternatives
to biofuels for that component of the transport sector. Algal biofuels have many advantageous characteristics that would lower impacts on environmental degradation in comparison to biofuel feedstock and in some cases improve the well-being of developing and developed communities. Within the international debate surrounding algal biofuels, there are both endorsement and scepticism coming from scientists with different views on the ability of this source of biofuels to meet a significant portion of fuel demand.

Bioenergy developments are high on many countries’ agendas today in an effort to improve
energy access, energy security and in the context of concerted efforts towards lowering
global green house gas emissions. Over time, however, serious concerns on the food
security impacts, social feasibility and sustainability of bioenergy have arisen, especially
with first generation bioenergy. In this context FAO, with generous funding from the
German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection , set
up the Bioenergy and Food Security (BEFS) project to assess how bioenergy developments
could be implemented without hindering food security. Over its term, the BEFS project has been supporting Peru, Tanzania and Thailand in assessing the feasibility of the bioenergy sector, potential impacts on food security, growth and poverty. The analysis presented in this document is the implementation of the BEFS Analytical Framework in Tanzania.

These key messages are drawn from the Technical Consultation on "How to design, implement and replicate sustainable small-scale livelihood-oriented bioenergy initiatives", which was held in FAO, Rome, 28-29 October 2009. They enforce the findings of recent studies on small scale bioenergy development schemes by UN agencies and their partners, demonstrating that sustainable small-scale livelihood-oriented bioenergy initiatives can provide improved access to sustainable and affordable energy services and enhance livelihoods for rural people and resilience to climate change, without negative impact on food production and the environment.